Monday, September 21, 2009

Plant Theft in Our National Parks II

The following is taken from the National Park Service's Morning Report for Monday September 21, 2009.

Blue Ridge ParkwayPlant Poacher Sentenced In Court

On Friday, June 17th, rangers received a report that a manhad been seen taking a backpack out of the trunk of hiscar, at which time the reporting party noted that thetrunk was full of live plants. Ranger Miranda Cook waitedfor him to return to his car. When she contacted him,she found that his pack was full of plants and diggingtools. Ranger Kathryn Brett assisted with the investigationand interview. The two rangers determined that the man hadstolen several plants from six locations along the parkwayand that he planned to sell seeds from those plantsas part of his overseas business. On September 17th,he plead guilty in federal court and was ordered topay a significant fine and restitution. [Kurt Speers,Ridge District Ranger]

This serves as another example of the problem faced in our National Parks of the theft of plants for an international market. More information on this growing problem will be found in the soon to be released book A Park Ranger's Life: True Stories from Thirty Two Years Protecting Our National Parks.

No comments:

Post a Comment

The Book

BUY NOW

Award

"A Park Ranger's Life: Thirty Two Years Protecting Our National Parks" is a collection of stories from the career of retired National Park Ranger Bruce Bytnar. You will find stories about bears, lost hikers, criminals, forest fires, and learn the true story of the challenges and rewards of being a National Park Ranger.

"A Park Ranger's Life" has received praise from those with backgrounds in our National Parks and readers interested in learning more about our parks and a career as a ranger.

The book has been adopted by universities across the country as required reading for students studying resource protection and park related curriculmns.